Anrich Nortje targeting Test return for South Africa against Australia after nearly four-year absence
Anrich Nortje is targeting a Test return for South Africa against Australia after nearly four years out of first-class cricket.
Anrich Nortje is targeting a return to Test cricket for South Africa against Australia after an absence of nearly four years from first-class cricket. The 32-year-old last played a Test in March 2023 and has since focused on T20 cricket to manage back and hip injuries. He has been rebuilding his red-ball workload and working on his action.
South Africa face fitness doubts over Kagiso Rabada and three other bowlers with hamstring injuries ahead of the first Test in Durban on Friday. Nortje featured in an intra-squad match over the weekend and is expected to be named in the final 15. He has played 19 Tests at an average of 26.71 and regularly bowled above 145kph before injuries curtailed his red-ball career.
Nortje said he had put in significant effort to upskill with the red ball and was excited at the prospect of wearing the Test cap again.
CricHubb Take
Nortje's attempted comeback illustrates the physical trade-off fast bowlers face when they extend their careers by specialising in shorter formats and then attempt to reverse that specialisation.